Police say they are brainstorming ways to battle increased crime after shots were fired near Springdale High School on Wednesday.

Police say they are brainstorming ways to battle increased crime after shots were fired near Springdale High School on Wednesday.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 8:19 PM CDT Aug 20, 2015

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT DANIEL: NEW TONIGHT, POLICE SAY THEY ARE MEETING TO TALK ABOUT INCREASED VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY. KELLY: 40/29'S PAIGE PREUSSE IS LIVE IN SPRINGDALE TO TELL US WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S PLAN IS. PAIGE: THE LATEST ACT OF VIOLENCE HAPPENED HERE JUST LAST NIGHT, RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL. YOU CAN SEE A BULLET HOLE ON THIS PROPERTY. THE OWNER SAYS PEOPLE HANG OUT HERE ALL THE TIME AND HAVE DAMAGED THE BUILDING WITH GRAFFITI, WHAT POLICE ARE NOT CALLING THIS GANG VIOLENCE RIGHT NOW. POLICE SAY THEY ARE BRAINSTORMING WAYS TO ADDRESS INCREASED CRIME. THIS BRING A POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS ITS CRIME SUPPRESSION UNIT WAS CREATED TO ADD MORE MANPOWER WHERE NEEDED WITH FIVE EXTRA OFFICERS. THE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT HAD A MEETING LAST NIGHT TO DISCUSS CRIME IN THE AREA AND GANG-RELATED VIOLENCE AFTER A SURGE IN VIOLENCE OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. RECENT EVENTS HAVE OBVIOUSLY LED THE CHIEF TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION. PAIGE: BUT IT HAS BEEN MONTHS, SO WHY NOW VERSUS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WHEN IT FIRST STARTED? I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU. PAIGE: THE LATEST VIOLENCE HAPPENED HERE ACROSS THE SPRINGDALE HIGH SCHOOL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY. ONE MAN WAS SENT TO THE HOSPITAL. RIGHT NOW POLICE ARE NOT SAYING WHETHER OR NOT IS HIS GANG RELATED -- NOT IT IS GANG-RELATED. WE WANTED TO KNOW IF THE DEPARTMENT THINKS THERE IS A GANG PROBLEM IN THE AREA WITH AN INCREASE IN VIOLENCE. BUT NOT ALL OF THE SHOOTING, FIGHTS, HOMICIDES HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY LINKED TO GANG ACTIVITY. PAIGE: SO YOU'RE SAYING AT THERE IS NOT A GANG PROBLEM IN SPRINGDALE? WELL, A GANG IS THE HOT WORD FOR THIS MONTH. IT DEPENDS ON YOUR DEFINITION OF GANGS. PAIGE: IN YOUR OPINION, DO YOU THINK THERE IS A GANG PROBLEM IN SPRINGDALE? I AM NOT DENYING THAT WE HAVE A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE ROUTINELY IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS GANG MEMBERS WERE COMMITTING CRIMES. PAIGE: THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS RIGHT NOW IT IS BRAINSTORMING WAYS TO REDUCE CRIME AND WORKING WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES. LIVE IN SPRINGDALE, PAIGE PREUSSE, 40/29 NEWS. KELLY: OK, PAIGE.

Crime suppression unit battles Springdale crime after shooting

Police say they are brainstorming ways to battle increased crime after shots were fired near Springdale High School on Wednesday.